Yearend Special: 2024 is K-pop’s messiest year yet

While controversies are nothing new in the K-pop industry, 2024 is considered one of the messiest years as the majority of its issues exposed the darkest sides of the Hallyu wave to a global audience, resulting in backlash on social media and other platforms.

The 2020s marked a shift in the Hallyu wave as it expanded on a wider scale. The rise of K-pop, K-drama, and other Korean-centered industries has been a thing since the early 1990s but this year is another indicator of the aggressive push of South Korea to reach a global audience. Their efforts have since been fruitful as its fanbase dramatically increased since then.

But Hallyu’s global dominance was a risk as its controversies were exposed to a wider audience which resulted in more backlash. In this Yearend Special, take a look back at the biggest issues that shook fans and the industry.

READ: Yearend Special: Philippine showbiz’s messiest moments in 2024

Seunghan’s departure from RIIZE

Two months after Seunghan debuted as a member of RIIZE in 2023, he was the brunt of controversy after pre-debut photos of himself getting intimate with an alleged girlfriend and smoking circulated among South Korean forums. This led to him being put on a 10-month hiatus.

Seunghan’s return to the K-pop boy group was announced by SM Entertainment in October 2024. This was met with backlash from some Korean fans, almost to the point where funeral wreaths were sent to the building. Moments later, the label took back its earlier statement as the singer eventually left the group.

“The announcement of [Seunghan’s] return, we ruminated carefully on each and every one of the opinions and responses sent in by fans, and we realized that our decision had actually hurt fans more and caused them greater confusion instead,” SM said. “At the same time, Seunghan has consistently expressed his desire to leave the group for the sake of the members and the fans.”

In a handwritten letter, Seunghan apologized for the commotion caused by his departure, while reiterating that leaving RIIZE is best for the group. “I believe stepping away from the team is the best decision for everyone. I don’t want to bring any more confusion or pain to the fans, nor do I wish to cause further difficulty for the other members. And I don’t want to cause any more damage to the company,” he added.

Calls for Seunghan’s return to RIIZE remain on social media up to this day with many hoping for a miracle from SM Entertainment.

Taeil quits NCT over sex crimes

Another artist who made headlines was Taeil, who departed NCT in August 2024 due to an unspecified sex crime. His exclusive contract was terminated two months later.

“Taeil is under investigation by the prosecution for a criminal complaint. This constitutes grounds for contract termination, and we could no longer maintain trust in him as an artist,” SM said in an October 2024 statement. “As a result, we mutually agreed to terminate his exclusive contract.”

While details of his crime have yet to be disclosed to the public, the ex-NCT member was reportedly accused of sexually assaulting an adult woman with two other acquaintances in October, per Korean media outlet Chosun Ilbo. It was then reported that he was under investigation for a criminal case.

BTS Suga’s DUI incident

Cases of driving under the influence (or DUI) are nothing new in South Korea, but BTS’ Suga made headlines after driving an electric vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. He was found by authorities lying on the ground next to his vehicle with his blood alcohol level over the legal limit.

“On the night of August 6, I made the mistake of riding an electric scooter on the sidewalk after drinking. I also apologize for causing a great deal of confusion through my first apology that I hastily posted on August 7. I should have thought more deeply and carefully, but I failed to do so,” Suga said in a handwritten letter posted on Weverse on August 25.

“I’m sorry that the [BTS] members, who always believed in me, are suffering because of me. And I’m all too aware of the disappointment that the fans who supported and cheered me on must have felt… I deeply [regret] my actions and [reflecting] each and every day with a heavy heart,” he continued.

After a series of investigations, Suga was fined $11,500 (15 million Korean won) by a court in Seoul.

VCHA’s KG files lawsuit vs JYP Entertainment

While VCHA is a global girl group — not a K-pop girl group — its member KG dominated the headlines in before yearend (December 2024) after filing a lawsuit against the US-based headquarters of the South Korean music label JYP Entertainment. KG (also known as KG Crown or Kiera Grace Madder), lodged a complaint against JYP USA before the Los Angeles Superior Court, citing experiences of child labor exploitation, unfair business practices, child neglect and abuse, and contract disputes regarding the handling of minors.

JYP USA addressed KG’s complaints in a bilingual statement, claiming that her claims are “false and exaggerated.” It also reiterated that attempts were made to communicate with KG and her team but to no avail.

“We deeply regret KG’s decision to file a lawsuit and make unilateral public statements containing false and exaggerated claims. This action has caused significant harm to the other members of VCHA and JYP USA who have been working diligently on their upcoming album and projects for early 2025,” it said.

But KG didn’t give in to the label’s curt statement as she called out JYP USA for its “lack of accountability” toward the matter, with her legal counsel Atty. Jeremiah D. Graham stated that she simply wanted to be freed from her contract.

“I will continue to fight for better treatment of K-pop idols and trainees, in which I promise to speak nothing but the truth. I hope by coming forward, other trainees, idols, and group members can be encouraged to use their voice, in order to make positive changes in the K-pop industry,” she said.

Poop stinks up Hanteo Music Awards 2024

It was a stinky situation at the Hanteo Music Awards 2024 last February after K-pop outlet Koreaboo reported that a fan (located somewhere in the standing section) pooped in his pants during the awards ceremony, causing a stench to waft throughout the ceremony.

Photos of K-pop idols attending the event were seen covering their noses, in what some believed to be their reaction to the stench.

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한터 가대석쪽 스탠딩에 누가 똥을 싸놨대.. 경호원이 보러 왔는데 확인결과 똥이네요 하고 갔다는데 ㅆㅂ

— 도리룽룽(상태 : v13) (@twitfordori) February 18, 2024

The organizers of the Hanteo Music Awards 2024 have not issued a statement on the matter, but the incident sparked concerns about maintaining a hygienic event for the singers, production staff, and audience.

READ: Yearend Special: Top trending showbiz stories of 2024

Min Hee-jin vs HYBE

This Yearend Special will not be complete without mentioning the soured relationship between HYBE and ex-ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin.

To begin with, the relationship between Min and the South Korea-based music conglomerate has been rocky  since the past years, but it escalated in April 2024 when the label ordered her to step down from her position amid a legal audit of the company and its sub-labels. This led Min to go public with her complaints against HYBE, accusing the label of plagiarizing NewJeans’ concept to the benefit of Belift Lab’s ILLIT.

Belift denied the plagiarism claims, which led the HYBE sub-label to sue Min for defamation. It then announced that it would take civil and criminal action against the ex-ADOR CEO, saying her claims are “entirely false.”

“We plan to submit evidence to the court proving that these claims are untrue. It is crucial to note that the injunction specifically targets HYBE. Involving our artists and staff in this matter based on inaccurate allegations to manipulate public opinion and benefit a separate legal case is not only inappropriate but also misleading,” Belift said in a statement last October.

Apart from Belift Lab, Min also found herself in hot water after exposing screenshots of her conversations with HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk, including orders for NewJeans to “crush” fellow K-pop girl group aespa, as well as claims of inciting “competition” among the conglomerate’s sub-labels. But Bang denied the allegations and accused Min of being a “malicious individual.”

Min was kicked out of her position as CEO of ADOR last August and was then reappointed as its internal director. However, she stepped down from the post in November.

NewJeans takes control

Also involved in the Min Hee-jin vs HYBE debacle was ADOR’s sole group NewJeans, who has long expressed their support for Min on multiple occasions. After expressing their concerns over Min being kicked out as ADOR’s CEO in August, the group held a surprise livestream a month later asking for the CEO to be reinstated into her position.

“[Min] discusses even the smallest details with us and explains them in ways that we can understand clearly. NewJeans has a distinct color and tone and this was created with CEO Min Hee-jin. She’s integral to NewJeans’ identity and we all feel that she is irreplaceable,” Danielle said during the livestream.

“We have the choice to choose how we will react to each situation and we are not going to follow HYBE’s every orders blindly. We are more than well aware that this is getting in the way of our work and that we should be treated much, much better than how we are right now,” Hanni added, agreeing with her bandmate’s remark.

Hanni also made a surprise revelation that a manager of another HYBE group instructed its members to “ignore her,” while reiterating the importance of fostering an amicable relationship between the conglomerate’s groups. While she didn’t mention any names, speculations were pointed to ILLIT as the group in question.

Two months after their livestream, NewJeans announced in a surprise press conference their departure from ADOR, although they promised that they would be carrying out their activities which were already scheduled.

“The reason we are leaving ADOR is very simple… NewJeans is an artist of ADOR, and ADOR is obligated to protect NewJeans. It is the most basic obligation that an agency has,” they said.

“ADOR does not have the will or ability to protect NewJeans. If we remain here, it will be a waste of our time, and our mental distress will continue. More than anything, there is nothing that we can gain in terms of our work, so the five of us think that there is no reason at all for us to remain,” it continued.

The HYBE sub-label would deny the allegations made by the group, stating that they would remain as an artist of the company touching on the standard contracts between the artists and the company.

However, NewJeans remained firm and has then moved forward with their careers, launching an Instagram page called “jeanzforfree,” among other pursuits.